James thoenton



(No Model.) v J. THORNTON.

WHIP SOCKET.

No. 274,850. Patented,Ma r.27,1883.

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UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES THORNTON, OF WELLSVII'JLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TOHORACE G. DOBBINS, OF SAME PLACE.

WHIP-SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 274,850, dated March 27,1883.

Application filed December 19, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES THORNTON, of'

Wellsville, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Whip-Sockets, of which thefollowing is a specification.

. This invention relates to an improvement in Whip-sockets, and has forits object to so construct the socket that, the whip-stock can beintroduced intothe socket from the front instead of from the top, if sodesired, and that the whip will be firmly held in the socket, and thatthe socket can be easily attached to the dash-board.

My invention consists, "to that end, of the particular construction ofthe socket, which will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed outin the claims.

In theaccompanying drawings, Figurelrepresents a front elevation of thesocket. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, ofmy improved Whip-socket. Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sections in linesa: w and 1 'y, Fig. 2, respectively.

A represents the body of the socket, which .is composed of two sidepieces, a a, connected at the top by a cross-piece, a, near the middleby a cross-piece, a near the lower end by a cross-piece, a, and atthelower ends by a bottom plate, a. The cross-pieces a, a and a arearranged on the rear side of the socket, next to the dash-board, so asto leave the front side of the socket between the front ed gessof thesidepieces, a a, substantially open and unobstructed.

B B represent two upright springs or elastic rods, which extend from thetop to the bottom of the socket in the open space between the frontedges of the side pieces, a a. The rear or outer side of the top portionof the body A is-provided with a groove, 0, which receives the upperends of the springs B B. The side pieces, a a, are provided on'theirouter sides, near the bottom plate, a, with a groove, d, which receivesthe lower ends of the springs B B. 6 represents a lip, which is cast onthe rear edge of the bottom plate, a, so as to project rearwardlytherefrom. The springs B B are preferably constructed of a single pieceof wire bent to the proper form. The lower portion of this wire, whichsurrounds the rear side of the lower end of the body A, is placed in thegrooves d and between the lip c and the body A, and the lip is thenclosed down upon the wire by pressure, whereby the lower portion of thewire is firmly secured to the socket. The upper ends of the springs B Bare placed in the groove 0 and soldered together on. the rear side ofthe socket. In this manner both ends of the wire spring are secured tothe socket in a very simple and substantial manner. The springs B Bapproach each other at a short distance below the upper end of thesocketv and extend downwardly below the middle of the socket in suchclose proximity 6 to each other, as represented at f f, as to retain thewhip-stock in the socket. The springs B B diverge near the lower end ofthe socket, as shown at g g, forming an opening, G, between thedistended parts of the springs, which is of sufficient size to permittheintroduction of the butt-end of the whip into the cavity of the socket.The springs BB again approach each other below this opening G, as shownat h It, so

as to confine the lower end of the whip-stock when placed in the socket.The whip-stock may be inserted into the socket by inserting its end intothe socket through the opening G between the distended parts of thesprings and then pressing the whip-stock backwardly into the socket,whereby the central portion,ff, of the springs B B are separated untilthe whipstock has passed by the same, when the springs B B return totheir former position, and thereby securely hold the whip in the socket.8 5

I I represent concave bearin gs, formed respectively on the rear sidesof the cross-pieces a and a and adapted to bear against the frame J ofthe dash-board.

K represents a horizontal screw-bolt, formed on the rear side of thecross-piece "a in such a position as to rest against the outer side ofthe dash-board frame; and 1 represents a pointed stud, formed on thecross-piece a so as to bear against the rear side of the dash-board J on9 5 the inner side of the dash-board frame.

M represents a clamp, which is provided at one end with an opening,through which the screw-bolt K passes, which is curved on its rear sideso as to rest against the front side of the dash-board frame, and whichbears with bolt K, and serving to tighten the clamp M against the outerside of the dash-board frame. This construction of the fastening,whereby the socket is secured to the dash-board, requires a manipulationof but a single screwnut for the application or removal of the socket,and avoiding the necessity of perforating the dash-board for the purposeof attaching the socket thereto.

One of the springs B B may be omitted, if desired, and the front edge ofone of the side bars, a, a, of the body of the socket may be shaped soas to take the place of the omitted spring; but I prefer the employmentof two springs, as it renders the socket lighter and more symmetrical inappearance.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The combination, in whip-socket, of a body,A, open at its front, and upright springrods B B, secured to the upperandlower ends of the body A, and having an opening between theircontracted portions," through which the whip-stock can be introduced.into the socket by a backward movement of the whip-stock, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination, in a whip-socket, of a body A, open atits front, andupright springrods B B, secured to the upper and lower ends of the bodyA, and constructed with contracted upper portions,ff, and lowerdistended portions, 9 g, substantially as described.

I 3. The combination, in a whip-socket, of a body, A, open at its front,and upright springrods B, secured to the upper and lower ends of thebodyA, and constructed with contracted portionsff and h h and intermediatedistended portions, g g, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a whip-socket, of a body, A, open at its front,and springs B B, formed of a single piece of wire, and secured to thelower end of the socket by a bent lip, e,

"and to the upper end of the socket by a groove,

0, substantially as set forth.

- JAMES THORNTON. Witnesses:

.W. T. THORNTON; W. E. MINNELEY.

